Airlines begin operations at Doha's Hamad International Airport

Tuesday, 27 May 2014 11:24

Hamad International Airport can cater to 8,700 customers per hour and has a total of 138 check-in counters. (Image source: Qatar Airways) A host of airlines, including Qatar Airways and Oman Air, have begun flight operations from the new Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Doha

The HIA Passenger Terminal Complex will house a total of 138 check-in counters across five islands, including 108 counters for economy passengers and all other airlines, 16 counters dedicated to business class travellers and 14 luxury, bespoke, seated check-in counters for first class passengers. The airport also has 40,000 sq metres of space dedicated to retail, dining and shopping.

Akbar Al Baker, CEO of Qatar Airways, said, ”The move of our entire operations to HIA is a momentous occasion for Qatar Airways, and one that we have been preparing for extensively for a long time. Our move to HIA heralds a new beginning for Qatar Airways, as we will now be based in a world-class hub that has been entirely designed to meet the needs and expectations of even the most discerning passengers.”

Oman Air is one of the first airline carriers to have moved its operations to the new airport. Over the next few weeks, other major airlines will gradually shift their operations to HIA.

Baker said HIA aimed to provide a ”seamless, hassle-free experience” for its passengers with the airport able to handle 8,700 customers per hour.

Located on the east coast of the peninsula, 16km from the centre of Doha and 4km from Doha International Airport, HIA has been constructed on reclaimed land. The passenger terminal complex is 600,000 sq metres in size, and currently the largest building in Doha.